I wasn't able to attend the 40th celebration of Buzz Durkin's dojo, a wonderful event, where Thompson sensei was invited to teach seminars. But what interesting to me is that our friend Jim Thompson also incorporates Aikido in his Uechi training:

His second tour lasted from March 1970 to September 1973, during which time he again studied at the Hombu Dojo in Futenma. Master Thompson has worked with the top students of Uechi Ryu including Shinyu Gushi, the Shinjo Family, the Uechi Family, and the Tomoyose Family, and received his black belt diplomas from Master Kanei Uechi.

Mr. Thompson also studied Okinawan Kubudo (Weaponry) and Aikido with the Japanese self defense forces while on Okinawa and worked with several Judo and Tae Kwon Do instructors at Fort Bragg, N.C..

Master Thompson is the founder and president of the Kokusai Kyokai branch of Uechi Ryu Karate-Do, based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He created the Kokusai Kyokai branch starting in 2000. Master Thompson received his black belt ranks up to 7th dan through Kanei Uechi, and was given the status of Kyoshi. Master Thompson received his 8th degree, Hachidan, from both Kanmei Uechi and Shintoku Takara. Master Thompson's present rank of 9th degree (kyudan) was awarded by Yoshistune Senaga of the Okinawan Karate-do Federation. Uechi Ryu Kokusai Kyokai includes various dojos across North America as well as one in Germany.

Upon creating the Kokusai Kyokai branch of Uechi Ryu, Master Thompson included Aikido training along side the Uechi Ryu system in hopes of regaining the grappling aspects of Okinawan Karate. The form of Aikido Master Thompson has integrated into the Uechi Ryu system is known as Seidokan Aikido. Master Thompson has studied various forms of aikido including Aikikai and Yoshinkai, but finally settled on the Seidokan system. In Uechi Ryu Kokusai Kyokai, students can receive black belt ranks in both Uechi Ryu and Seidokan Aikido.

A couple of points there are many styles/ types of Aikido and they are not all the same ,same as with bagua. That bagua guy is really good but I don't think he would be much good in a fight. Real fighting tends to look pretty crepe.look at judo, the only time it looks good is when you have a total beginner fighting a really seasoned veteran, same as boxing. I think people need a little grounding in that befors they try to learn "Styles".

I think of it as art rather than anything else. I did a heckuvalot of Aikido and Tai Chi but /i wouldn't use any of it in a real fight. I think that you have to be 100% confidant in what you do. AS they say " An honest man when he realises he is mistaken, either loses his mistakes or loses his honesty"

Being able to move off the X...sidestep...flank...reposition to advantage...is an essential aspect of self defense...

Also an essential component of contact sports...look at soccer players as an example...as a former player, I can tell you that if I did not have the skills to avoid nasty tackles with cleated soccer shoes spearing at your legs would not have much 'legs' left.

Any training that focuses on getting off line and redirect, in one way or another, is essential to a good fighter.

But I also agree that some of what is taught by some, is not very useful...this applies to any discipline.

But I also agree that some of what is taught by some, is not very useful...this applies to any discipline.

Over the years I have learnt some very fanciful techniques from so called masters who had never been in a fight in their lives.Even with respected styles though you need good solid basic techniques, and you need to question all the time, try stuff out and see what works for you and what doesn't with equipment like poor bob . I can't get boshinkans to work on poor bob for example, maybe some folks can in which case to them it is a valid tecnique. With clever stuff like wristlocks they don't always work and some can fail miserably, so I do what I call balistic wrist locks, not a lock but an out and out attempt to break

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